Glossary of logistcs terms

Platform Handling
All activities connected with an aircraft during the time it is on the platform. Ramp Handling

Plimsoll Mark
Mark, welded on both sides of the vessel, which gives the limit to which a vessel may be loaded, depending on the specific gravity of the water in which the vessel is situated.

Point Value
Point value is the relative value of an empty container of a certain size and type in a depot location. The system serves to quantify the imbalance costs resulting from a full container move and are the result of empty optimization calculations. Point values are created on forecasted container flows between depot locations. They are calculated taking into account the forecasted imbalances plus repositioning, storage and container costs for empty moves and expressed in USD. Note: In the various computer systems point values are used to calculate the imbalance charge or credit for a particular container flow. This charge or credit is the difference in point values between start and end depot location.

Pool
Shared use of e.g. equipment by a number of companies that also share the investment required. European Pallet Pool

Poop
Aft part of a vessel where the steering engine is located.

Port
1. Harbor with facilities for vessels to moor and load or discharge. 2. Left side of a vessel when facing towards the front or forward end.

Port of Discharge
Port where the cargo is discharged from the ocean- going vessel.

Port of Loading
Port where the cargo is loaded on board the ocean -going vessel.

Portal Crane
Type of gantry crane with vertical legs of sufficient height and width to permit vehicles or railroad equipment to pass between the legs.

Portlog
Record of a vessel's actual arrival and departure time, used tugs, draft, deadweight, quantity of discharged and loaded goods/containers and any other important particulars. Log Book

Positioning
Transport of empty equipment from a depot to shipper's premises or from consignee's premises back to a depot as the empty leg of a carrier haulage transport.

Postal Code
National code maintained by the Postal Authorities designed to indicate areas and accumulated addresses to facilitate sorting and the delivery of mail and other goods. Zone Improvement Plan

Pre-Carriage
Carriage of goods (containers) by any mode of transport from the place of receipt to the port of loading.

Pre-Carrier
Carrier by which the goods are moved prior to the main transport.

Pre-Shipment Inspection
Abbreviation: PSI. Checking of goods before shipment for the purpose of determining the quantity and/or quality of said goods by an independent surveyor (inspection company). The inspection can also be for the purpose of determining whether the price charged for certain goods is correct, a practice used by some countries.

Pre-Slinging
Act of placing goods in slings which are left in position and are used for loading into and discharging from a conventional vessel.

Prepaid Charge
Charges entered on the Air Waybill for payment in advance by the shipper (air cargo).

Prepaid Freight
Freight paid by the shipper to the carrier when merchandise is accepted for shipment. Not refundable even if the merchandise does not arrive at the intended destination.

Price Quotation/Pro Forma Invoice
Invoice prepared by the seller in advance of shipment that documents the cost of goods sold, freight, insurance and other related charges. It is often used by the buyer to secure a Letter of Credit, an import licence or a foreign currency allocation.